Electromechanical translator



June 26, 1951 o. MYERS ,558,577

ELECTROMECHANICAL 'TRA'NSLATOR Filed Oct. 31, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

HFI-H HHHHHHHHHHHH .UUUUUEJUEJEIEJUEIUUE? UEIUIEIUEIEIUEJUEIEJUUEIEIEIUDEIUUUEIUUUEIUEI UUUUUUUUUUU UUU [:IEJIIIEIEICIIIIEIEIIIIEHIIEJUII]INVENTOR o. MYERS A T7'ORNEV June 26, 1951 o. MYERS 2,558,577

ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSLATDR Filed Oct. 51. 1946 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Leo I||m|||||||mmm||u|| mfgi ma mm sa gs/ f 41 FIG. 3

112 0 nun nun n n n unnnn n nun nfiunnnnnnnnunnnnnnnnnn-ununnnnnnnnnunnnnuun fln fln u n n nun n n n n nnnnn n INVENTOR 0.MYERS ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSLATOR Oscar Myers, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assignorto Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application October 31, 1946, Serial No. 707,020

23 Claims. 1

This invention relates to translators and, more particularly, to cardtranslators and methods of translation using photoelectric effects toregister their output information.

A feature of the present invention is a card translator which will becomparatively simple in construction, easy in operation, compact in formand inexpensive to build.

Another feature of the subject invention is a card translator whoseinput information is obtained by the operation of two registers in. eachof a number of groups containing five registers in a group, each groupserving to convey information as to a different one of the digitsconstituting the input code number.

A further feature of the subject invention is a translator arrangementin which each card has a distinctive pattern of wide and narrow notchesalong one edge of the card and in which the card to be selected isoperated on only at those places where it has wide notches.

Still another feature of this invention is a translator arrangement inwhich the output information from a selected card is transmitted bymeans of a radiant energy system, which passes energy through adistinctive pattern of apertures in the card and energizes a distinctivepattern of registers on the output side.

A still further feature of the invention is a translator arrangement inwhich a card may be replaced with another card having a differentpattern of wide and narrow notches or a different pattern of apertureswithout necessitating any changes in the construction of the translatoritself and Without complicating its method of operation, thereby makingthe apparatus adaptable for a variety of uses in which translators ofthis kind may be employed.

Still other advantages of the invention will become apparent during thefollowing discussion, when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

In this system of card selection, each card is provided with a pluralityof wide and narrow notches along a corresponding edge, with the patternof wide notches varying from card to card. When the cards are alignedtogether, two narrow notches along the edge of one card will extend thelength of a Wide notch at a corresponding position along the edge ofanother card. The resultant number of notches which appear when thecards are viewed in their stacked relationship will exceed the number ofnotches appearing on any one card. A selecting bar lies adjacent to eachof the notches appearing in th stacked card relationship and an inputregister is associated with each selecting bar. The input registers areactually magnets which when operated cause their associated selectingbars to be displaced by the attractive force of the magnets on magneticplates fastened to the ends of the selecting bars and as a result theselecting bars are inserted into their adjacent notches. Selection of acard is obtained by inserting selecting bars into the notches only atthose places where the particular card has wide notches. Since all ofthe cards except the selected card will have selecting bars insertedinto at least one narrow notch, these cards will be clamped againstmovement While the wide notches will permit some lateral movement in theselected card.

After a particular card has been selected, the output information on thecard is obtained through radiant energy means. Each card is providedwith series of apertures, or, more restrictively in the preferredembodiment, perforations which are'punched in the cards in such a mannerthat the apertures on the dilierent cards are aligned when the cards arestacked in their normal relationship. Next to some of the apertures inthe regular series are auxiliary apertures but these apertures, unlikethe regular series of apertures, are distinctively patterned on eachcard. Thus if a card is displaced a certain distance all of the originalapertures will become covered by the displaced card except for thoseapertures which have auxiliary apertures punched in adjacent positions,since the auxiliary apertures of the displaced card Will now be in theposition that the first apertures formerly occupied. An individualsource of radiant energy is aligned with each of the apertures common toevery card when the cards are in their normal stacked relation and aseparate means responsive to the radiant energy sources is aligned witheach aperture and radiant energy source. When a selected card isdisplaced, however, only those responsive means which are aligned withapertures individual to the selected card will be energized, since thedisplaced card will block continuity between all other radiating sourcesand responsive means.

After registering the output information from a selected card, th samemeans which operated to displace the card are now operated in reverse toreturn the card to its normal stacked relationship, thereby restoringthe translating device to normal preparatory to the start of anothercycle of input registartion.

A translator 01- this type has a fundamental advantage. In former typesof translators complicated systems of relays and other apparatus wereemployed. Suppose in such a system as used in telephony for translatingeach of ten thousand numbers into other numbers it became desirable ornecessary to change the cross-connections so that a given number whichwas translated into a second number would be translated into a thirdnumber; this involved diificult changing of electrical connections. Bymeans of a translator according to the present invention, however, thechange may be made by the easily performed operation of substituting onecard for another.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings,

Fig. 1 is a simplified circuit diagram of the electrical features of theinvention, with the electrical features being viewed in relation to themechanical details upon which they act;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the cards in their stacked position andillustrates how the cards are acted upon by an input register;

Fig. 3 shows a front View of a particular card before it has beenselectively operated upon by certain of the input registers;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a second card, with particular emphasis beingplaced upon its relationship to the first card after the first card hasbeen selectively displaced.

In Fig. 1, to which reference is now made, a simplified circuit diagramof the electrical features of the invention is shown. These comprise theelectromagnets lila through iile, inclusive; Ha through He, inclusive;and [2a through l2e, inclusive, which serve as the input registers; andradiant energy producing means, shown as the numeral IS. Theelectromagnets illa through We, inclusive, are arranged so that oneterminal of each magnet is connected to one side of the battery Hi, theother side of which is grounded. The other terminals of theelectromagnets connect to the leads Him through 156, inclusive, theseleads in turn connecting to the sender, which receives the dialedinformation and feeds it to the card translator for decoding action bythe translator. The electromagnets shall thereafter be referred tosimply as magnets. The sender is not shown in Fig. 1, since it is justone of a number of means for introducing an input code to the cardtranslator. When the first digit of a code number is dialed, two out ofthe five input leads l5a through [5e are grounded, and thus two of thefirst five magnets become energized, with the particular two magnetswhich are energized depending upon the number that is dialed. Thus, forexample, if the number 2 is dialed, magnets Illa and lilo may beexcited, While magnets We and IE6 may be excited if the digit 9 isdialed. Associated with the magnets llla through We, Ha through He, and[2a through 12c are movable contact armatures comprising, with themagnets, relays designated AI through A5, Bl through B5, and CI throughC5, respectively. Associated with the particular magnets Illa and Hieare the two relay armatures I6 and ll, respectively. When the magnetsare not energized, these armatures are positioned so as to makeelectrical connection with the lower contact. When their respectivemagnets are energized, however, the armatures are attracted toward themagnets so as to establish a continuous circuit at the upper contacts.The magnets [01), c and lad each have two armatures similar to thearmatures l6 and I! associated with them and in addition the magnet lllchas associated with it a third armature 24, which is of theone contactvariety. The lower contact l6 of relay Al is connected to the armatureI8 of relay A2, and the upper contact it of relay AI is connected to thearmature IQ of relay A2, both the armatures l8 and i9 being responsiveto the magnet illb. In addition, th upper contact [8 of the relay A2 isconnected to the lower contact I9 of the relay A2. In like manner, theupper contact IQ of the relay A2 is connected to the lower con tact 2!!of the relay A3 and the lower contact 19 of the relay A2 is connected tothe upper contact 20 of the relay A3 as well as the lower contact 2| ofthe relay A3, while both the upper contact 2! and contact 24 of therelay A3 are connected to the lower contact [8 of the relay AZ. From thearmatures 2E3, 2i and 2 connections are made to the lower contact 23 ofthe relay A4, the upper contact 23 of the relay AG, and the uppercontact 22, also of the relay A l, respectively, with an additionalconnection being made from the armature 2! of the relay A3 to the lowercontact 22 of the relay A4. Similarly, the armatures 22 and 23 of therelay A l connect to the upper and lower contacts, respectively, of therelay A5. It will thus be seen that unless two of the magnets Hlathrough tile, inclusive, are energized, a continuous circuit will not beestablished from the armature [6 of the relay Al to the armature ll ofthe relay A5. Suppose, however, that the number 2 is dialed and magnetsEta and lilc are energized. This in turn will cause the armature 16 ofrelay Al and the armatures 2i] and 21 of the relay A3 to be attracted totheir upper contacts. Simultaneously the armature 24 of the relay A3will break electrical connection with its contact. A continuous circuitwill now be established from the armature it through the upper contactof relay A! to the armature and lower contact IQ of relay A2, then tothe upper contact and armature 2B of relay A3, through the lower contact23 and armature of relay A i until finally the lower contact I1 andarmature of relay A5 is reached. In like manner, a continuous circuitmay be traced from the armature it of relay Al to the armature l! ofrelay A5 when any other combination of two magnets is energized.

Whereas the magnets Illa through lfie, inclusive, are responsive to thefirst digit of an input code number, the magnets Ha through He,inclusive, are actuated by the second digit that is dialed. As with thefirst bani; of magnets, each of the magnets Ha through He, inclusive,also has one side connected to the battery M, while the other side isconnected to the leads 25a through 25c, respectively, which in turnconnect to the same sender as the leads ltd through l5e, inclusive. Anumber of relay armatures similar to the armatures it through 2inclusive, are associated with the magnets Eta through He, inclusive,comprising relay Bi, B2, B6, B t, and B5, respectively. These armaturesare connected together and operate in the same fashion as was previouslydescribed in connection with the relays A! through A5. Thus, in orderthat a continuous circuit be established from the armature 2B of therelay B5 to the armature 5 50f the relay Bl, which are operated upon bythe magnets He and Ha, respectively, two of the magnets Ha through He,inclusive, must be'excited.

From the armature 5 of the relay Bl, connection is made to the armature2? of the relay C l, which is associated with the magnet 12a. The relayCl is the first of a number of relays similar to the relays Al throughA5, inclusive. These relays perform the same functions when anycombination of two of the magnets l2a through I26 are actuated that therelays Al through A5, inelusive, perform when a combination of any twoof the magnets Illa through me is actuated. Whereas, however, themagnets sea through llle are actuated by the first digit dialed, themagnets I2a through 12c, inclusive, are actuated by the third digit ofan input code number. These magnets are connected in a similar fashionto the magnets Hid through ite, inclusive, with one side of each magnetbeing connected to the battery I4 and the other side being connected toone of the leads 28a through 28c, inclusive, these leads in turn beingconnected to the same sender as the leads l5a through its and 25athrough 25c, inclusive. When two of the magnets 32a through He,inclusive, are actuated, a continuous circuit will be established fromthe armature 2? of the relay CI to the armature 29 of the relay C5.Since a continuous electrical path will already have been formed betweenthe armatures l5 and I! of the relays Al and A5 and between thearmatures 2t and 54 of the relays B5 and BI by the dialing of the firsttwo digits and since the armatures ll and E4 of the relays A5 and BI areconnected to the armatures 25 and 2'1 of the relays B5 and Cl,respectively, a continuous circuit will be formed from the armature ofthe relay Al to the armature 29 of the relay C5. Although only threebanks of relays are shown, it

should be realized that additional banks may be provided if the inputcode number contains more than three digits. Likewise, if more than tenvalues should be obtainable for each digit, an increase over the fiveregisters shown in each bank might be necessary. Thus, for example, atwo-out-of-six code would yield fifteen combinations and atwo-out-of-seven code would yield twenty-one different combinations. Therelay circuit described above could be adjusted easily to accommodatethe additional magnets in each bank.

When a continuous electrical path is established to the armature 29 ofthe relay C5, the electromagnet 30 will be energized, since one side ofthe electromagnet 38 is connected to the armature 29 of the relay C5 andthe other side is connected to the battery 3|. A return path is providedthrough the armature it of the relay AI, which is grounded together withthe second side of the battery 3|. Excitation of the electromagnet 30causes the contact 32 to close and thus allows a continuous circuit tobe established from the battery 33 through the series it of radiatingenergy sources through the contact 32 and then back to the ground sideof the battery 33 by means of the ground connection on the armature 32.

In addition to closing a circuit through battery 33 so as to illuminatethe radiant energy sources 13, the magnet 36 also exerts a lateral pullon all the cards in the stack, as may be seen from the top view of thetranslator in Fig. 1. Similarly the magnets lUa through llle, Ha throughHe, and I; through lie in addition to operating the relays Al throughA5, Bi through B5, and Cl through C5, respectively, also operate uponthe selecting bars 37a. through 37a, 38a through 38c, and 39a through39c, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to select a card inaccordance with the input code, as shown by Fig. 4. It should berealized that a number or" forms of radiant en-. ergy may be used, suchas photoelectricity, infrared energy or ultra-violet energy. Thus, theseries 13 of energy sources might be electric bulbs or sources ofinfra-red or ultra-violet energy. The following discussionwill proceedon. the. theory that electric light bulbs are used. Since a continuouscircuit is established, the bulbs I 3 will glow and will send out lightthrough certain apertures which will be present in each card in theirstacked relationship, even when one of the cards has been displaced bythe action of the magnets Illa through We, Ha through I lo and 12athrough [2e and also the magnet 30, which also operate relays Al throughA5, B! through B5, and CI through 05. The cards are shown in theirstacked relationship in Fig. l, and the electric bulbs I3 are located onone side of the stack, facing the cards in such a way that the lightwill shine completely on the face of the first card. A directive deviceis aligned with each radiating source and aperture for the purpose ofdirecting into a beam the energy from the radiating source, and thisbeam passes through the corresponding aperture and energizes an outputregister associated with the particular energy source and aperture.

The output registers may be means responsive to the same form of energyas used for the radiating source, such as photoelectric or ultra-violetor infra-red responsive means. Since the following discussion willproceed on the theory that photoelectricity is the form of energy used,the series 34 of output registers must he means responsive tophotoelectric energy such as photoelectric tubes. Such responsive meansare known and need not be enumerated here. This series 34 of outputregisters is shown as being in corresponding positions to the lightbulbs 13 but on the opposite side of the stack of cards to the bulbs l3so that only those registers will be operated corresponding to the bulbswhich are allowed by the displaced card to pass light through the cards.If the output registers could be viewed from a position in which thefull face of the card stacked closest to the output registers could becompletely seen, they would appear as the plurality of registers 35shown at the bottom of Fig. 1. The number of output registers may bedifferent from the number of input registers and the output code bedifferent from the input code. Additionally, since the discussion willproceed on the basis that photoelectricity will be the form of radiatingenergy employed, the directive devices between the series $3 of bulbsand the corresponding apertures may be a series of collimating lensesshown as the numeral 55.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the factors which cause a particular card to beselected and a code to be transmitted are illustrated by means of a faceview of the card 36. Briefly, the notches on the bottom of the card 35,when operated upon by the selecting bars beneath the notches, cause thecard to be selected, while the apertures out into the face of the carddetermine the particular code that will be transmitted by the card. Asmay be seen in Fig. 3, fifteen selecting bars are positioned beneath thecard 36 although a different number of selecting bars and a differentnumber of notches may be used as discussed previously in connection withthe input registers shown in Fig. 1. If these selecting bars beconsidered divided into three groups containing five bars in a group andif a combination of two bars out of the five bars in each group beactuated by one of the three digits in a three-digit code number, aparticular card may be selected. Thus, the selecting bars 31a through@l'e, inclusive, comprise the first group; the selecting bars 38athrough 38e, inclusive, comprise the second group; and the bars 39athrough 39c, the third group. Each selecting bar has a magnetic platesimilar to. the magnetic plate 40 shown at the end of the selecting bar31a. Thesemagnetic plates lie below magnets which, when actuated,operate on the corresponding magnetic plates so as to lift the selectingbars upward into the notches on the card. Thus the magnets lea throughoperate on the selecting bars 31a. through 3112; likewise, the magnets ila through I le operate on the selecting bars 38a through 38c,inclusive, and the magnets lZa through 520, inclusive, operate to raisethe selecting bars 39a through 39c. The magnets Eta, through Hie, Hathrough He, and 12a through 12c are the same magnets as shown in Fig. 1,which also operate relays Al through A5, Bl through B5, and CI throughC5.

As has been previously mentioned, each card has a series of notches cutfrom the bottom edge of the card. Each of these notches is directlyabove one of the selecting bars such that when the selecting bar israised by the action of the corresponding magnet, it will be insertedinto the notch. If, now, notches for all of the selecting bars were cutinto each card, each card would have a number of teeth between notchescorre sponding to the number of selecting bars, that is to say, fifteenteeth. Also, when any selecting bars were raised, all of the cards wouldbe locked from movement in a horizontal direction so long as the barsfitted snugly into the notches. If, however, in each group, two teethare removed so that a combination of three narrow notches and two widernotches is formed, insertion of the s'e=- lecting bars into thosenotches where a particular card had teeth removed would allow that'cardto be moved. However, since the combination of teeth removed isdifferent for each card, every other card in the stack would have aselecting bar inserted into at least one narrow notch on the card and sothese cards would be restrained from moving in a horizontal direction.As may be seen from Fig. 3, the card 36 has had the teeth betweennotches removed from the first and fourth teeth of the first group, thethird and fourth teeth of the second group and the first and fourthteeth of the third group. This may be seen from the fact that theseteeth appear in Fig. 3 from cards in back of the card 36. Thus, if theproper numbers be dialed so that the selecting bars 3M aid in the firstgroup, 380 and 38d in the second group, and 39a and 39d in the thirdgroup are raised, only the card 36 will be allowed to move to the right,the other cards being positioned with respect to any movement to theright in the plane of the paper by at least one of the insertedselecting bars. The detent means 49 restrain the cards from movement inany direction except a possible movement to the right.

Movement to the right in the plane of the paper, as viewed with respectto Figs. 3 and 4, is accomplished by means of the permanent magnet 42.This magnet rests against a corresponding edge of each card in the stackin juxtaposition to a magnetic strip placed on each card, such as themagnetic stripB on the card 36, the magnetic strip running along thatedge of the card which is in juxtaposition to the magnet 42. Instead ofa magnetic strip at the edge of each card, however, the same result maybe obtained by making each card from a magnetic ma-' terial. In thenormal position, when the cards are in alignment with each other, noneof the cards can move by the action of the magnet 42 on the magneticstrips since the magnet 42 touches the strips. However, when theelectro-'- magnet 38, which is the same electromagnet as that describedin connection with thediscussion of 'Fig'. l, is energized, it attractsthe armature 44 towards it. Since the armature 54 as well as the magnet42 is attached to the shaft 45, the magnet 42 will move towards theelectromagnet 3B and its reaction on the magnetic strips will exert aforce to the right on all of the cards. However, only that card havingwide notches at the positions Where the selecting bars were insertedwill be free to move, the other cards being positioned by the snug fitof at least one selecting bar into a corresponding notch. Fig. 4 showshow the card 36, if it is selected, would be displaced with respect tothe position of all the other cards in the stack, as represented by thecard 54.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the means by which a distinctive outputregistration for each card may be obtained is also illustrated. As maybe seen, a vertical row of main apertures is positioned in alignmentwith the selecting bar 37a. Likewise, a row of main apertures ispositioned above each of the other selecting bars. Thus fifteen verticalrows of main apertures, corresponding to the fifteen selecting bars, areshown in Fig. 3, with each row containing five apertures. However, anyother number of rows than fifteen could be used and likewise the numberof apertures in each row could be varied from five. Also, the aperturesneed not be aligned with the selecting bars as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings but may be arranged in any desired manner. To theleft of some of the apertures in each row of main apertures areauxiliary apertures, all of which are spaced the same distance fromtheir corresponding main apertures. Thus, in the first row of apertureson the card 35, the first and fourth apertures in the row, indicated asthe numerals 63 and st, respectively, are auxiliary apertures located tothe left of the original apertures and horizontally aligned with theoriginal apertures. Likewise, in the second row, the second and fourthapertures have the auxiliary apertures 65 and 66 and in the third rowthe fourth and fifth apertures have the auxiliary apertures 61 and 68.Examination of each row on the card 36 will disclose that two of theoriginal apertures in the few have auxiliary apertures to their left.If, now, the card to be selected is shifted to the right a distanceequal to the distance between the centers of the main and auxiliaryapertures, the selected card will cover all the main apertures of theother cards in the stack except for those places which have auxiliaryapertures. Only at those places where the displaced card has auxiliaryapertures will the auxiliary apertures be able to assume the position ofthe original apertures so as to allow light from electric bulbs to passthrough the stack and and register information on the output registers.The plate 46 serves to limit the distance the selected card may bedisplaced to the distance between the centers of the original andauxiliary holes. It will thus be seen that a distinctive pattern foreach card may be obtained from the output registers.

It should be realized that the main apertures do not have to be alignedin rows. As long as an electric bulb and an output register are alignedwith each of the main apertures, the main apertures may be arranged inany manner desired. The main apertures are aligned in rows in Fig. 3only for the purpose of simplifying the appearance of the drawings.Furthermore, transparent portions substituted for the apertures wouldserve the same function as the apertures, namely, allowing energy topass from the radiating source to theresponsive source. Consequently, anac- 9 tual opening in a card and a portion which is transparent to theparticular kind of radiant energy employed are considered to beequivalents and the appended claims are to be read as though either ofthese expressions included the other. likewise, instead of having bothmain and auxiliary apertures the main apertures might be in- .creased inwidth wherever an auxiliary aperture was formerly used. This would stillallow a coded pattern of apertures to be apparent whenever a card wasdisplaced.

Fig. 2 is a side view with respect to Fig. 3 and shows the cards intheir stacked position. Five electric bulbs for lighting the first rowof apertures shown on the card in Fig. 3 are shown at the left side ofFig. 2 and are indicated as the numeral 41, and the five associatedlenses for directing the light from each of the bulbs are shown as thenumeral 55. The five output registers which register the informationfrom the bulbs 41 are shown at the right of Fig. 2 as the numeral 48.The selecting bar 3741 is shown at the bottom of the stack of cards andextends all the way across the stack, with a portion extending downwardand away from the stack at the left. This portion is shown as the partthat is not cross-hatched in Fig. 3. Referring again to Fig. 2, themagnetic plate 40 is located in this extension of the rod 31a and isattracted upward by the magnet Ilia, which is located above the plate4!) in such a direction that its axis is perpendicular to the portion ofthe selecting bar 31a that extends beyond the stack of cards. The magnetNib is located below the magnet Illa, as shown in Fig. 2 and illustratedfurther in Figs. 3 and 4, while the magnetic plate 49, which isassociated with the magnet lflb, is a corresponding distance below theplate 40. Each of the selecting bars has a pair of slots, such as theslots 50 and 5! in the selecting bar 31a, and thus, when a selecting baris attracted by its associated magnet, it moves along its slot. However,the slots extend in a vertical as well as horizontal direction, as shownin Fig. 2; consequently, when a selecting bar is attracted by its magnetit will move in an upward direction while moving towards the magnet. Thesectional lines 3-3 and 44 in Fig. 2 indicate where the views shown inFigs. 3 and 4, respectively, are taken.

While certain specific embodiments of the invention have been described,it should be understood that various other embodiments of the inventionmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An input register and an output register in combination with a stackof opaque plates having a normal position and having a plurality oftransparent apertures common to all of said plates, further transparentportions in each plate adjacent to certain of said common transparentapertures in a distinctive pattern for each plate, radiant energyproducing means aligned with all of said common apertures, radiantenergy responsive means aligned with each of said common apertures,means controlled by said input register for selectively modifying thealigned position of said common apertures in such manner as to obstructpassage of radiant energy from said producing means to all of saidresponsive means except those responsive means aligned with alignedtransparent portions of all said plates, means for affecting said outputregister 10 means selectively in accordance with the selectivity of themodification, and means for restoring the normal alignment of saidplates upon completion of such output registration.

2. A plurality of plates each having a normal or undisplaced position,radiant energy producing means, selective instrumentalities forselectively displacing one of said plates, means operable incident tothe selective displacement of any one of said plates to cause saidradiant energy producing means to become active, a set of radiant energyresponsive devices, paths for transfer of radiant energy from saidproducing means to said responsive devices, a selected plurality of saidpaths being established incident to the displacement of a selected oneof said plates whereby certain of said responsive devices are energizedselectively in accordance with the plate displaced.

3. The method of converting a registration of a multidigit number intoanother registration which comprises causing the first registration toselectively establish a path or paths for the transmission of radiantenergy, causing energy to traverse said established path or paths, andcausing the traversing energy to establish said other registration.

4. The method of deriving information from a registration of a numberand registering said information in converted form which comprisescausing the registration of the number to selectively establish;according to the number, paths for the transmission of radiant energy,projecting radiant energy over said paths, causing currents to flowselectively under control of the radiant energy according to the pathsestab lished, and causing the converted information to be registered bysaid currents.

5. In a card record system, a plurality of perforated cards havingidentically positioned primar perforations, means for maintaining saidcards in stacked relation wherein corresponding primary perforations inall of said cards are aligned, each of said cards having distinctivelypositioned secondary perforations adjacent to certain of said primaryperforations in accordance with a record code, and means for selectivelydisplacing any one of said cards in said stack by a distancecorresponding to the spacing between said primary perforations and saidsecondary perforations, whereby the distinctively positioned secondarperforations of said displaced card may be sensed through the alignedprimary perforations of said cards remaining in stacked relation.

6. A translating arrangement comprising, a plurality of input registers,a plurality of out put registers, a plurality of stacked cards, meansfor maintaining said cards in stacked relation, perforations in all ofsaid cards arranged in accordance with a distinctive code for each card,means for selectively displacing any of said cards while maintainingthem in said stacked relation by operation of said input registers, andmeans operable through the perforations of a displaced card to controloperation of said output registers.

'7. A translator arrangement comprising a pluralit of input registers, aplurality of output registers, a plurality of stackable cards, means formaintaining said cards in stacked relation, main perforations in all ofsaid cards arranged in alignment when said cards are in stackedrelation, means for displacing selected cards in accordance with adesignation set up on said input registers, auxiliary perforations insaid cards :arranged in a distinctive pattern for each card, and

means-operable'through the auxiliary perforations of said displacedcardsand the main perforations of said stacked cards for operatingsaid-output registers.

8. A translating arrangement comprising, a

plurality of input registers, a pluralityof output registers, aplurality of stacked cards, means 'for maintaining said cards in-stackedrelation, main apertures in all of said cards arranged in. alignmentwhensaidcards are instacked relat1on,aux-

iliary apertures in said cards adjacent to certain "of said mainapertures and so placed as to be aligned with corresponding mainapertures of said stacked cards when a card is selectively displa'ced,means controlled by said input registers for selectively displacing anyof said cards,'and radiant energy means operable through the auxiliaryapertures of said displaced card and aligned main aperturesof saidstacked cards to control operation of said output registers.

9. A translating arrangement comprising, a

plurality of input registers, a plurality of output registers, aplurality of stackable cards, means eration of said input registers, andradiant energy means transmitted through the auxiliary apertures of saiddisplaced cards and the main apertures of said stacked cards foroperating said output registers.

'10. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of inputregisters, a plurality of output registers, a plurality of stackablecards of magnetic material, means for maintaining said cards in stackedrelation, main apertures in all of said cards arranged in alignment whensaid cards are in stacked relation, a magnet in juxtaposition tothe'edges of all the cards in the stack, means for moving the magnetaway from the edges of the cards, said magnet simultaneously attractingone or more of said cards in accordance with a designation set up onsaid input registers, auxiliary apertures on said cards and radiant enery means operable through the auxiliary apertures of said displaced cardsand aligned main apertures of said stacked cards for operating saidoutput registers,

11. A'translating arrangement comprising, a plurality. of inputregisters, a plurality of output registers, a plurality of stackablecards, strips of magnetic material attached to a corresponding edge ofeach card, means for maintaining said cards in stacked relation, amagnet in juxtaposition to the magnetic edge strips of all the cards inthe stack, means for moving the magnet away from-the edges of the cards,said magnet simultaneously displacing one or more of said cards inaccordance With a designation set up on said input registers, mainapertures in all of said cards arranged in alignment when said cards arein stacked relation, auxiliary apertures in said cards, and radiantenergy means controlled by the auxiliary apertures of said displacedcards and the aligned main apertures of said stacked cards for operatingsaid output registers.

12. A translating arrangement comprising a "plurality of inputregisters, a plurality'ofoutput registers, a plurality of 'stackablecards, a pinrality of notches arranged along corresponding edges of eachcard, a selecting bar associate'dwith each of said notches and saidinput registers, means for maintaining said cards in stacked relation,main apertures in all of said cards arranged in alignment when saidcards are in 1110 stacked relation, means for selectively displacing oneof said cards in accordance with the insertion into notches of barsselectively chosenby said .input registers, auxiliar apertures in saidcards,

and-radiant energ means'controlled by the aux- 1'5 iliary apertures ofsaid displaced card and the main apertures of said aligned cards foroperating said output'reg-isters.

13. A plurality of stacked cards, a plurality of Wide and narrow notchesarranged along a corresponding edge of each card in a distinctivepattern for each card, a plurality of selecting bars arranged adjacentto each of said notches, a plurality of input registers capable ofinserting a, combination of said selectin bars into correspond-'ing'notchcs whereby all of said cards are locked from movement except aparticular card having all Wide notches at the points of insertion,means for laterally displacing said particular card, a plurality ofprimary perforations common'to all o'f said cards, additional secondarperforations in each card adjacent to certain of said primaryperforations in accordance with a distinctive code for eachcard, andmeans for operating through said secondary perforations of saidlaterally dis- .135 placed card and aligned primary perforations of theremaining stacked cards to efiect a distinctive output registration fromsaid displaced card.

1i. An opaque plate having its opacity interrupted by coded transparentportions, means for 40 displacing said plate, radiant energy producingmeans, a plurality of radiant energy responsive means aligned with saidradiant energy produc ing means and said transparent portions in theirdisplaced positions whereby certain of said responsive means areenergized in a pattern corresponding to .the pattern of said transparentportions.

.15. A stack of opaque plates having transparent portions, certain ofsaid transparent por- 550 tions common to all of said plates in theirstacked arrangement, other transparent portions individual to eachplate, a source of radiant energy directed against a face of said stack,a plurality of radiant energy responsive means adjacent an opposite faceof said stack, said responsive means aligned with said producing meansand said common transparent portions, means for displacing a selectedplate sufiiciently to cause the transparent portions individual to saidselected plate to be aligned with corresponding transparent portionscommon to all of saidstacked plates whereby only the receiving meansaligned with said individual portions in their displaced position areenergized.

16. A plurality of opaque plates having rows of transparent portionscommon to all plates, further distinctive transparent portions in eachplate aligned adjacent to certain of said common transparent portions insuch manner that an individual pattern of said distinctiveportions isrepresented on each plate, radiant energy producing means aligned withsaid common apertures on one side of said plates, separate radiantenergy means responsive to said producing means, said responsive meansaligned with said producing means and said common transparent portionson the opposite side of said plates, means for displacing a selectedplate sufliciently to cause the distinctive transparent portionsindividual to said selected plate to become aligned with correspondingtransparent portions common to all of said plates whereby only thereceiving means aligned with said distinctive portions of said displacedplate are energized.

17. In a telephone system the combination of a sender and a translatorcomprising an input register, a photoelectric output register, and aplurality of perforated cards in a stack, means for selecting one ofsaid cards in accordance with a coded designation set up upon said inputregister, means for moving said selected card in translation withrespect to said stack, and radiant energy means for operating saidoutput register through coded perforations in said selected card.

18. The combination 01 an input register comprising a plurality ofrelays and electromagnets, an output register comprising a plurality ofradiant energy responsive means, and an opaque plate having its opacityinterrupted by coded transparent portions, means controlled by saidinput register for displacing said plate, radiant energy producing meansdirected against said opaque plate and aligned with said radiant energyresponsive means and said transparent portions in their displacedpositions whereby said responsive means are energized in a patterncorresponding to the pattern of said transparent portions.

19. An input register and an output register in combination with a groupof opaque plates having transparent portions, certain of saidtransparent portions common to all of said plates in their normalgrouped arrangement, other transparent portions individual to eachplate, radiant energy producing means aligned with said transparentportions on one side of said group of plates and a plurality of radiantenergy responsive means aligned with said radiant energy producing meansand said common transparent portions on the opposite side of said group,means controlled by said input register for altering the position of aselected plate with respect to the group of plates in such manner thatthe transparent portions individual to said selected plate becomealigned with common transparent portions of said group whereb theradiant energy responsive means aligned with individual transparentportions of said selected plate in its altered position are energized inan output registration pattern.

20. A translating arrangement comprising stacked card elements having aplurality of aligned openings therethrough, input register means capableof being selectively set in accordance with numerical designations,means operable following the setting thereof according to any onedesignation to move said card elements to selectively bafile certain ofsaid openings, means operable to project radiant energy through theunbafiled openings, and means responsive to the projected unbafiledradiant energy to register information codewise as a function of theregistered number.

21. A translating arrangement comprising stacked card elements having aplurality of aligned openings therethrough, input register means capableof being selectively set in accordance with numerical designations,means operable following the setting thereof according to any onedesignation to move said card elements to selectively baille certain ofsaid openings, radiant energy source means, means operable incident tothe movement of said card elements to supply radiant energy from saidsource means, means operable to project radiant energy through theunbaffied openings, and means responsive to the projected unbaftledradiant energy to register information codewise as a function of theregistered number.

22. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers,a plurality of output registers, a plurality of perforated magneticplates each having a distinctive pattern of perforations and distinctiveserrations, means for selecting an one of said magnetic plates byoperation upon said distinctive serrations in response to designationsset up upon said input registers, and means for operating upon saidselected magnetic plates to produce a distinctive output registrationcorresponding to coded perforations of said plates.

23. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of electromagneticinput registers, a terial situated between said output registers and aplurality of perforated plates of magnetic material situated betweenasid output registers and a source of radiant energy in such manner thatsaid radiant energy is transmissible through perforations of said platesand incident upon said output registers, means for selecting one of saidplates in accordance with a designation impressed upon said inputregisters, and means for controlling transmission of energy throughperforations of said selected plate to effect a distinctive outputregistration corresponding to said perforations.

OSCAR MYERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

